The United States Advanced Battery Consortium (USABC), a collaborative organization of FCA US, Ford Motor Company and General Motors, has reissued its request for proposal information (RFPI) for improved thermal management system development for lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries used in vehicle applications.
The RFPI was reopened to prompt more submissions from all candidates, especially those new to USABC programs. It is aimed at developers and teams having Li-ion battery system technologies that have the capability of meeting USABC goals for Li-ion thermal management as well as meeting or approaching USABC goals for 48V, plug-in hybrid electric or electric vehicle systems.
Proposed thermal management system technologies should provide a significant improvement over current technologies while still meeting the USABC goals, as listed in the full RFPI. Resulting contracts will include a 50% minimum cost share by the recipient.
USABC seeks industrial-scale development consistent with intended high-volume automotive use, supported by a detailed cost model for the battery system. Improvements must be demonstrated while maintaining or exceeding current state-of-the-art parameters in all other areas of automotive energy storage system performance.
All developers submitting viable proposals will be required to provide a credible plan toward achieving USABC goals. Proposals with a plan for meeting USABC cell-to-system performance goals will be given preference. Applicants also will be required to submit a detailed schedule that would support commercialization.
The deadline for submission is October 7, 2016.
July 22, 2016